Folding sectional table with latch mechanism



Feb. 5, H. HOWE FOLDING SECTIONAL TABLE WITH LATCH MECHANISM Filed Sept. 24, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 1%4040 fia/E W MM ATTORN EYS.

Feb. 5, 1957 ow 2,780,506

FOLDING SECTIONAL TABLE WITH LATCH MECHANISM Filed Sept. 24, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 NEYS.

United States PatentQ FOLDING SECTIONAL TABLE WITH LATCH MECHANISM Harold Howe, Rowayton, Conn., assignor to Howe Folding Furniture, Inc., New York, N. Y., ,a corporation of New York I Application September 24, 1953, Serial No. 382,060

11 Claims. (Cl. 311-89) This invention relates to table and bench co,nstruction.

preferably to each side of the table for coactiomw-iththe top parts respectively. a i

An object of the invention is to provide a novel unit in which table and bench means coact to proyide a structure useable for a plurality of purposes;

Another obiect of the invention is toprovide a table and bench structure convertible into a seat with coactive slanting back rest adapted to be placed against the ,wall of agymnasium or other room, and thus conserve space.

Another object of the; inventionis to provide table and bench structures easily convertible into a two vtier bleacherwhen one bench is folded and the other; bench andathe table are in open position, and'placedagainst-a wall,

Another object of the invention is to provide astructure of the above described kind which'can be readily-folded into a. plurality of closely spaced substantially parallelplanes, for storage, or to temporarily provide. greater floor space as for examplein' a'school', college-ormilitary dining room or gymnasium where the space is used at difierent times for classes, lecture halls, athletic events etc.

Other objects of theinvention will be in part'obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter;

The invention accordingly consists in the featuresof construction, combinations of elements, arrangementslof 7 parts, and in the several steps and relationwand order-of each of said steps to one or, morelof the. others thereof, all as will be pointed out in the following description, andthe scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

The invention will best be understood if the following description is read in connection with thedrawings, in which,

Figure l is a perspective viewof tableand-bench structure in unfolded position;

Figure 2 is an end view of the structureshownin Figure 1 showing the relation of the parts just after the beginning of folding action, and showing pa-rticularly the locking-and operational means by which the folding action ofeven large relatively heavy; tables and the moving toward one another of a plurality of associated bench means may be easily accomplished, the bench members being shown infull lines in folded position, and the'unfolded position ot'o ne-being shown; in dotted lines;

' 6- 6 .of Figure 2;

Figure 3 is an end elevation showing the table, structure a Figure 7 is a side elevational view showing the under surface of a bench member and the support and interconnecting means by which a plurality of pairs of braces arelcontrolledfor opening and elosing movement simultaneously;

Figured is-an end view of the structure shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a sidenelevational detail View showing a bench and its support; means and brace and linkage means;

Figure-10-is-a detailview partly in cross section of part of thestructureshown in Figure 7 by which remote controlof oneof a pl' ality of pairs of braces is obtained for actuating it simultaneouslywith-another pair of ac s; i V

Figure 11 is a detailview takenon the line 1111 of Figure lq; and

Figure 12 is a detail vifiwtakenon the lines l212 of igu e The-table tqpshown in Figure 1 comprises the two parts 10 and 12 each pivotally supported on individual support means, inclicated generally by the numerals 14 and lo respectiely; Eachsupport means is connected tothe-other toppart i.-,e., the part other than the one to which it is, directly pivoted, by one or more link members, link members 18 being shown 'pivotally connected at one endwtosuppcrt means 14 by pivot 20 and at the other 'endby pivot 22 tohinge plate 24 extending downwardlytnom top part 12; and link'rnernbers 26 being shownconnected at: one end to. support means 16 by pivot 28, rand-at theotherend connectedby pivot Siito hinge plate Std spending, from vthe under surface of top. part lllythehinge plates 24 and 32 being overlapped andpivotally connected by pivot means 33. Extending between the support means Hand 16 and desirably pivoted at. oneend'to said members 14 and 16 'on said pivotslilrand 28-respectively are thelinks 34 and 36 which; adjacent-their other ends respectively are interconnected'with a third, link 38 'by the pivots 40 and 42 respectively. 1

The inner ends: 34a and 36a of links 34 and 36 respectively are extended beyond said pivots 40 and. 42 respectively,;said extended ends being reduced in height providing space for bracket 44 which is to be described. When the table is fully unfolded the reduced end portions 34:: and 36a. of said links 34 and 36 respectively are horizontally aligned with one another and they are vertically ali'gnednwith bracket 44.

The ends 38a and 38b of link 38 are bent first rear- Wardly and then outwardly providing stops limiting the movement of the support means 14 and 16 toward one another as is illustrated in Figure 5. When the legs 14 and 16 are moved-in against the bent over ends respectively ofwcross link 38 the table topis folded, as shown in Figure3," but the whole table structure including the benches comprising the seat members 7% and 72 and their support means, can still be supported on said support'means or legs 14am 16.

Secured on the outer side of link 33 is a U-shaped bracket 44 between the arms 44a and 44b of which a cross rod- 46- is provided having thereon the spring member 48. Also pivotedon rod- 46 as bycars 52a and ward movement of said links and thus preventing inadvertent initiation of folding of the table structure. Member 50 is yieldingly retained in the locking position shown in Figure 6 by means of said spring 48 the middle portion 48a of which presses against said link member 38, and the ends of which are wound around cross rod 46 with the extremities 48b and 480 extending into engagement with the inner surface of pedal member 50. Spring 48 thus tends to pivot said member 50 into the locking position shown in Figure 6.

When suflicient pressure is exerted downwardly upon the portion 50a of pedal member 50 to overcome the force of spring 48 member 50 pivots in a clockwise direction unlocking the inner ends of said links 34 and 36 and initiating folding movement of the table as illustrated in Figure 2. So long as the folding pressure is maintained said links 34 and 36 continue to rotate until they extend downwardly in substantially parallel relation into the position illustrated in Figure 3. The folding force exerted through foot pedal 50 to link 38, and through link 38 to said links 34 and 36 and to the table top parts 12 and 10 through links 18 and 26 respectively, may be aided and accelerated by pressing down and in on the outer edges of the respective table top parts as indicated by the arrows A-A, Figure 2.

Means are shown for locking the table in folded position, the means illustrated comprising the latch bar 60 pivotally mounted in brackets 62 attached to the inner surface of top part 12. The right hand portion 60a of bar 60 is bent into a handle by which the main body of the bar may be rotated toward or away from a bracket 64 projecting from the under surface of table top part 10, and which has an open end slot into which the bent over end 60b of rod 60 may be inserted and frictionally engaged thereby locking the table in folded position. For unlocking it is only necessary to press on the latch bar 60a indicated by the arrow in Figure 4, and the structure The support means shown herein for the seats 70 and 72 respectively each comprise a plurality of legs each having a pair of folding braces, and means are provided whereby folding and unfolding action of one pair of brace members is communicated to another set of brace members for facilitating folding and unfolding of the support means. Since the means is the same for both seat members 70 and 72 it will suiiice to describe the means employed in connection with seat member 72, which, on the right hand side of Figure 3, is shown in unfolded position coacting with folded table top part 12 which in this position constitutes a back rest for the seat 72.

may be easily unfolded by exerting a lifting force along the outer margin of either of the top parts 10 and 12, the force being transmitted to the other top part by link 18 or link 26. When the unfolding movement is complete the portion 50c of the rotatable pedal member 50 will seat under the adjacent ends of links 34 and 36 thereby locking the table in folded position.

Figure 3 illustrates how the top parts 10 and 12 coact with bench means movable toward and away from one another as the table is folded and unfolded, to provide back rest means for the benches. As illustrated the bench means comprise the seat members 70 and 72, the seat member 70 having on its under surface one or more angle members '74 pivotally connected by pivot means 76 to bracket means 78 secured on the support means 14 for table top part 10. Similarly seat means 72 has on its under surface one or more angle members 80 pivotally connected by pivot means 82 to bracket means 84 secured on the support means 16 for table top part 12.

Rotatably supported on the under surface of seat member 70 in brackets 86 is the leg or support means 88 movable from the unfolded position shown in Figure 2 to the folded position shown on the left hand side of Figure 3, and seat member 72 is similarly provided with support means 90 rotatably mounted in brackets 92 on the under surface of seat member 72.

interconnecting the angle means 74 on the bottom of seat 70 with the support means 88 are the brace members 94 and 96 which at their outer ends are respectively pivotally connected to support means 88 and to angle means 74 by pivots 98 and 100 respectively, their inner ends being interconnected by pivot 102. Similarly the angle means 80 on the bottom of seat 72 is interconnected with the support means 90 by the brace members 104 and 106, the outer ends of which are connected respectively to the support means 90 by pivot means 108 and to the angle means 80 by pivot means 110, and which are interconnected at their inner ends by the pivot 112.

The remote control means for controlling one pair of braces with another is best seen in Figure 7 which shows the under side of seat 72 in its folded position.

As shown in Figure 7 the support means 20 for seat 72 comprises a U-shaped member the intermediate portion 90:: of which extends through the brackets 92 and the outer portions 90b and 90c of which constitute legs. Brace member 1040 is connected at its outer end to leg 90b by pivot 108a. Brace member 106a is connected at its outer end to angle member 30 by pivot 110a, and said members are interconnected at their inner ends by the pivot member 112a. Similarly leg member 900 is connected by pivot 10812 to the outer end of brace member 104b the inner end of which is connected by pivot 11211 to brace member 106b the upper end of which is connected to angle member 80 by pivot 11012.

Extending between link members 106a and 106b is a connecting rod 114 the extremities of which are rectangular in cross section. The rod ends respectively extend through brace members 106a and 10617 and angle members 80. In angle members 80 circular holes 116 are provided through which the rod ends extend, said circular holes providing bearings within which the connecting rod is rotatably supported. In brace members 106a and 106b, however, rectangular holes h are provided adjacent their outer ends respectively. Rotary motion of connecting rod 114 is thus communicated to said links 106a and 106b respectively and when the brace means at either end of a seat member is folded or unfolded, to cause folding or unfolding of its support means,

I the folding or unfolding force is communicated through rod 114 to the other brace members connected to the other leg of the support means for the seat thus causing folding of both pairs of braces simultaneously and facilitating the folding of the support means for the seat.

As illustrated in Figure 8 one brace member of each pair of braces may comprise a stop member 120 to prevent folding of the brace members except in one direction. As shown in Figure 10 a spring member 122 is provided which tends to urge the brace members into folded position thereby facilitating the folding of the seat member and its support means. Spring 122 extends around the non-circular end portion of connecting rod 114, see Figure 10, between the angle member and the brace members, and its ends press on the brace members adjacent their pivoted interconnection.

The bench means when folded as has been described will take substantially the position illustrated in full lines on the left hand side of Figure 3. Also in this folded position the locking spring 122 acts as a past center pressure means to prevent the legs of the bench from unfolding during handling or transportation. In this position the leg means will be projecting upwardly. For unfolding, the upwardly extending leg means may be grasped and rotated inwardly, or the seat means may be lifted and rotated outwardly, thus raising the seat means to unfolded position, after which a pull on either leg b or 900 will be communicated from one pair of leg braces to another by connecting rod 114 making it possible to unfold a bench assembly with a minimum of effort.

The table and bench structure shown herein has the two part function of either providing a table and seats useable for example for dining, or for work or school purposes generally, etc., or as a seat and back rest u es; and may be easily moved. When folded they oceasy a'frni'r'iimum' o'f spac'e'and they ar e thus particularly wen; adap ed for use" in rooms which serve different purposes successively as for example in assembly halls" and maybe'used at... different. times for gatherings, lectures, exhibitions; sporting events, etc. By the pedal loper'ated link means disclosed hereinfolding of, a' table ,with the'attendant moving'of. the supportand be'rijch' rr'ie'ansf m'ay' be accomplished withia minimum of effort, or the, table may be' locked in'unfolded position. Tuscan "tibility between 'coactive seati and back rest. means andtable' and bench means greatly increases the utilityo'f the structure. v v

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention a niihiidahd separatism which the various objects 3 hereinabove set forth. together with rnany thoroughly practical advantages a'r'esiicessfully achieved. As various possible embodiments might be made of the mechanical features of the above invention and as the art herein described might be varied in various parts, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matters hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is: a

1. In a structure comprising two table top parts, support means for each part and link means interconnecting the support means for each top part to the opposite top part, a three link means interconnecting the support means for said top parts, a first of said links being pivotally connected at one end to one of said support means, a second of said links being pivotally connected at one end to the other of said support means, and the third of said links being interconnected between said first and second links by pivots spaced from the inner ends of said first and second links, and means carried by said third link and movable under the adjacent ends of said first and second links to lock the support means in unfolded position.

2. The structure claimed in claim 1 in which the pivots interconnecting said first and second links respectively to said third link are spaced apart a predetermined distance to limit the movement of said support means toward one another and provide a firm support for said structure in its folded position.

3. The structure claimed in claim 1 including means for supporting on said third link for oscillatory movement around said third link the means movable under the adjacent ends of said first and second links, said oscillatory means having a first portion movable under said able from abutting relation in a horizontal plane when said support means are moved apart, into planes which are more vertical than horizontal when the said support means are moved together, and three-link means interconnecting the support means for said top parts,

afirs Qts idfinks be n rii' ta l sqnns d at w a to onse a d su p tmss a st an f s Iii-s. being disposed at all times and serving to limitlmovement of said support meanstowafd -pne another and causesaid support means to pr 'firrn support for-thestructure at; all times, v including when said saidsupport means are as close togetherq as. permittedby said thirdmember.

, 5. The structure,comprisingytwo table topparts, supn tms ns ta ach pa t.. an l n m a i w n n ch po m a to e 1 u ort dhe o r support means,first and second additional link means extending downwardly in relation to the said link means, and a third additional link means pivotally connected to said first and, second additional link :means at points spaced fromx the lower; extremities'of said first and second additional links, .said third additional link means remaining; substantially horizontal at -al l, times; including when the table is folded and unfolded, a bracket supno tedby s d hir i k m a sa qd supn r di s bracket and extending substantially parallel to said third link, a foot pedal supported on said rod for rotation around said rod, the ends of said first and second additional links being partly cut away below the pivots joining them to said third additional link to provide space for said bracket when said first, second and third links are aligned with the reduced ends of said first and third links extending under said bracket, and spring means supported on said rod and tending to rotate said pedal to project a portion thereof under the aligned reduced ends of the first and second additional links to lock said three links in alignment and prevent the disalignment of said links and the folding of the table until force is exerted upon the foot pedal to rotate it from locking position thus conditioning the table for folding.

6. A folding table comprising two parts each part ineluding a top portion and support means for the top portion, hinge means joining the two top portions together, means for communicating folding and unfolding force from one of said table parts to another, and mean for effecting folding and unfolding of said table by movement of said support means toward and away from one another and movement of said top portions between an unfolded position in which said portions are aligned in a horizontal plane to a folded position in which they are disposed in substantially parallel planes, said last mentioned means comprising three links, including an intermediate link which is disposed in a horizontal plane between the two support means and two end links pivotally connected between said intermediate link and said support means respectively, said end links being movable from a position of horizontal alignment with said intermediate link when the table is unfolded to a position in which they are disposed in substantially parallel vertical planes when the table is folded.

7. The table structure claimed in claim 6 including means carried by said intermediate link tending to move under the opposed inner ends of said end links when the table is unfolded thus locking the table against inadvertent folding action.

8. The table structure claimed in claim 6 including locking means mounted for rotation on said intermediate link and including a portion movable under the adjacent ends of said two end links to lock them when the three links are aligned, and means tending to rotate said locking means to move into said locking position, said locking means including a pedal portion which when pressure isapplied to it rotates said locking means out of locking position and transmits folding force through said three links to the table support means respectively causing said support means to move together until stopped by abutting against the respective ends of said intermediate link and at the same time moving the top portions from unfolded to folded position.

9. A folding table comprising two parts, each part including a top portion and support means for the top portion, hinge means joining the two top portions together, means for communicating folding and unfolding force from one of said table parts to another, means for spacing the support means apart to enable the table to stand upright on its said support means even when the table is in folded condition, said spacing means consisting of the intermediate link of a three link combination which is movable from a position in which all three links are aligned when the table is completely unfolded to a position in which the end links of said combination are disposed in substantially parallel planes when the table is folded, said end links being pivotally interconnected between said intermediate link and the support means of said parts respectively.

10. The device claimed in claim 9 in which the ends of said intermediate link are angularly related to the main body of said link to provide stops against which said support means respectively abut when the table is in folded position.

11. The device claimed in claim 9 in which the inner ends of the end links are extended beyond their pivotal connections with said intermediate link and means are provided supported by said intermediate link for extending under the said extended ends of said end links when the said combination of three links are aligned and the table is therefore in open position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 161,497 Fay Mar. 30, 1875 587,518 Bartelle Aug. 3, 1897 1,324,781 Akeley Dec. 16, 1919 1,407,405 Girard Feb. 21, 1922 2,024,431 Corduan Dec. 17, 1935 2,481,935 Larson Sept. 13, 1949 2,506,606 McCaw May 9, 1950 2,506,852 Barcus May 9, 1950 2,558,465 Seymour June 26, 1951 2,561,703 Koenig July 24, 1951 2,587,010 Thompson Feb. 26, 1952 2,607,647 Howe Aug. 19, 1952 2,649,925 Seymour June 23, 1953 2,675,859 Abler Apr. 20, 1954 2,717,631 Howe Sept. 13, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 170,595 Germany May 10, 1906 

